Accumulator and boxer for flexible bags

ABSTRACT

A mechanism to accept containerized product, particularly frozen potato products in flexible bags, in an unordered fashion, accumulate the product in vertical array and positively deposit the amassed array in a container. A slower conveyor presents bagged product to a faster pivotably mounted conveyor which deposits the product successively on vertically spaced accumulator plates that are moved toward each other to compact the array of product between adjacent plates; the compacted product is then moved horizontally into a pre-positioned container which is removed for closure and further processing.

United States Patent 1191 Deines July 31, 1973 1 ACCUMULATOR AND BOXERFOR 3,604,689 9/1971 Hutcheson et al 53/126 x FLEXIBLE BAGS 3,608,2699/1971 Gore 53/124 D 3,657,860 4/1972 Franklin 53/164 X Donald E.Deines, Kennewick, Wash.

Deines-Baker Development (30., Kennewick, Wash.

Filed: Mar. 20, 1972 Appl. No.: 235,975

Inventor:

Assignee:

US. Cl. 53/124 D, 53/126, 53/152, 53/159, 214/6 F Int. Cl. B65b 35/50Field of Search 53/124 D, 126, 152, 53/153, 159, 164; 214/6 F ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS Primary ExaminerRobert L. SpruillAtt0rneyKeith S. Bergman [57] ABSTRACT A mechanism to acceptcontainerized product, particularly frozen potato products in flexiblebags, in an unordered fashion, accumulate the product in vertical arrayand positively deposit the amassed array in a container. A slowerconveyor presents bagged product to a faster pivotably mounted conveyorwhich deposits the product successively on vertically spaced accumulator plates that are moved toward each other to compact the array ofproduct between adjacent plates; the compacted product is then-movedhorizontally into a pre-positioned container which is removed forclosure and further processing.

5 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PMENTEBJULB 1 I973 3148,79?

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FIGUHE 2 PATENTEDJUU 1 1915 SHEET 2 OF 5 PAIENIEU JULS 1 I975 SHEEI 3 BF5 FIGMHE 4 FIGURE 5' PAIENIEUJUI 3 I I975 IYSHEEI l UF 5 FIGMIFE 6FIGURE 7 PATENTEB JUL 3 I I975 SHEEI 5 [IF 5 ACCUMULATOR AND BOXER FORFLEXIBLE BAGS BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 1. FIELD OF INVENTION Thisinvention relates generally to a product accumulator and boxer, and moreparticularly to such a mechanism that accumulates an array of flexiblybagged product, that compresses the array and positively moves ithorizontally into a pre-positioned container.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART Frozen prepared potato products, especiallyfrench fries, have become reasonably important items of commerce inrecent years. With the advent of economical plastic packaging it hasbecome common in the industry to contain this product in flexibleplastic bags of somewhat rectilinear cross-sectional configurationformed from impervious plastic sheets to contain the fungible product inappropriate retail units and preserve it, both physically andaesthetically.

The elongate rigid nature of the french fried potatoes, oftentimes withsharp end parts, and containment in a relatively airtight, reasonablydelicate membraneous bag has given rise to some packaging problems. Thefrench fries are initially handled in a bulk fashion which arrays themin a quite dis-oriented mass which tends to some degree to perpetuateits configuration because of the rigid elongate nature of the productand its inter-locking relationship. When this mass is unitized andbagged then, there is a relatively great tendency for the dis-orientedfrench fries to puncture their container and the entire mass isoftentimes loose and unconsolidated with a quite irregular periphery.This condition makes handling of the bagged product quite inconvenientand has deleterious effect on arraying plural product units for furthercontainment.

Because of these problems it heretofore has become the common practicein packaging prepared potato products to accumulate plural product unitsmanually, and place them by individual hand operation in containers forstorage and shipment. Compaction and orientation of product within thebags to provide a reasonably uniform, compact, rectilinear configurationhas either not generally been attempted or accomplished and by reason ofthis the product has been packaged in a quite loose, irregular fashion.This requires a box or container substantially larger than would berequired if the product were appropriately compacted and it has mademechanical handling of the accumulation and boxing function mostdifficult because the loose unorganized bags of product do not arraywell with each other and present an array that is so unconsolidated andunrelated in its parts that it is difficult to maintain for mechanicaloperation.

Heretofore many product accumulators, compactors, and box-type packageshave become known individually and in combination, and moreparticularly, at least one such device has become known in the frenchfry packaging arts to some degree. These devices have not proveneffective, however, because they have not been adapted to the particularnature of the frozen french fry product, nor to operation upon theparticular flexible bags containing it. The various mechanicaloperations have generally either broken or damaged the product, torn ordamaged the containing plastic bag or not accomplished the function ofarraying and compacting the bags to box them in minimal space withminimal subsequent damage for shipment and handling.

The one known mechanism that was designed particularly for accumulationand packaging of french fried potatoes has provided a large wheel withplural spaced accumulation pockets about the periphery within which apre-determined array of plastically bagged, processed potatoes may beaccumulated. Bags are successively put into the accumulator pockets byinertial transfer from a conveyor and subsequently maintained by lateralmechanical pressure until deposition by gravity into a box-typecontainer. This device does not orient or compact the potatoes withinthe bag prior to accumulation, and does not particularly solve theproblem of product orientation and compaction thereafter. The productboxed by this mechanism is not in general anymore compact than thatfonnerly boxed by hand, it generally has been damaged more than the handboxed product and it is not any less susceptible to further potentialdamage in shipping or subsequent handling.

The instant mechanism differs from this prior art structurally, in thatit orients the potato product within the bags by agitation prior toaccumulation and thereafter maintains product orientation whilecompressing the product in controllable fashion only to such a degree asmight be accomplished without substantial product damage. The product isthen moved horizontally by positive mechanical action, rather thandropped vertically by gravity to maintain it in its compact arrayed formduring placement in a pre-positioned container. The invention differsfunctionally from the prior art in that it presents the frozen potatoproducts in plastic bags in a more compacted, unitized array thatoccupies substantially less space in a container than the prior artproduct and is subject to much less potential damage during subsequenthandling or shipment.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION My invention, in general, provides a unitizedmechanism that may be established in or immediately adjacent an existingproduction line to randomly receive product from it and re-deliver theproduct or, if desired, the mechanism may be used as a separate,independent entity.

'I provide an input conveyor to randomly receive product, agitate it toorient material within the bags, and transfer it mechanically to anadjacent accumulator conveyor. The accumulator conveyor is pivotablymounted at its product receiving end for vertical mo- .tion of itsproduct distributing end and moves at a greater speed than the imputconveyor to assure that any product transferred by the input conveyorwill not accumulate or be fouled. Plural, spaced, vertically orientedproduct accumulating shelves are positioned adjacent the productdelivery end of the accumulator conveyor to receive product from it.Positionally sensitive switches activate appropriate mechanical linkageassociated with the accumulator conveyor to move the conveyor downwardlyto the next lower adjacent accumulator shelf upon filling of animmediately higher shelf so that product will be accumulated in avertically arrayed fashion by the accumulator. The several productaccumulator shelves are mechanically linked to compact while maintainingvertical orientation upon the filling of the last lowermost accumulatorshelf. A product pusher is positioned laterally of the accumulatorshelves to activate upon accumulator compaction to move the compactedproduct horizontally off the accumulator shelves and recycle theaccumulator conveyor. Additional mechanical pushers move the product ina continued horizontal course into an adjacent container positioned toreceive the array. The container is then removed for additionalprocessing in the traditional fashion and the accumulator recycles tocontinue operation. The accumulator conveyor positioning is accomplishedby opposed pneumatic and hydraulic set-cylinders or by a pneumaticallyactivating hydraulic system for appropriate control. The device isadapted to formation from materials and in a fashion that is readilyacceptable in the food handling industries. The mechanism allows a rateof packaging of up to about one hundred units per minute and themechanism may be pluralized to increase this capacity.

In providing such a mechanism it is:

A principal object of my invention to provide an accumulator and boxerfor frozen french fries contained in flexible plastic membraneouspackages.

A further object of my invention to provide such a device that compactsand arrays the product by agitation prior to accumulation.

A further object of my invention to provide in such a device anaccumulator that compacts the accumulated product into a unitized arrayof a relatively compact nature.

A further object of my invention is to provide such a device that movesthe compacted, unitized product array horizontally, while maintainingcompaction and unitization, into an adjacent box-type container.

A still further object of my invention to provide such a device thatrequires no manual operation, but yet containerizes'the product in sucha compact fashion as to occupy substantially less space than manualpacking to lessen any substantial subsequent damage during transit orhandling.

A still further object of my invention is to provide such a device thatis of new and novel design, of rugged and durable nature, of simple andeconomic manufacture and one that is otherwise well suited to the usesand purposes for which it is intended.

Other and further objects of my invention will appear from the followingspecification and accompanying drawings which form a part hereof. Incarrying out the objects of my invention, however, it is to beunderstood that its features are susceptible to change in design andstructural arrangement with only one preferred and practical embodimentbeing illustrated in the accompanying drawings, as required.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings which form apart of this specification and wherein like numbers refer to similarparts throughout:

FIG. 1 is an isometric surface view of my invention showing its variouselements, their configuration and relationship.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a typical plastic french fry bag.

FIG. 3 is a partial vertical orthographic view of the accumulator platebiasing mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a partial isometric view of the agitator associated with theimput conveyor.

FIG. 5 is a vertical orthographic view of the opposed hydraulic andpneumatic cylinders associated to control motion of the accumulatorconveyor.

FIG. 6 is a vertical isometric view of the accumulator compressingstructure.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the box holding mechanism of my device.

FIG. 8 is a partial isometric view of the pusher structure and boxholding mechanism, showing further details.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT My invention provides generally,imput conveyor 11 to transport, consolidate and array bag product 10 fordelivery to accumulator conveyor 12, which transports the product anddeposits it successively on the spaced vertically arrayed plates ofaccumulator structure 13, which thereafter compresses the verticallystacked array of product to thereupon move it horizontally by pusherstructure 14 to boxer structure 15, from whence it is deposited in apre-positioned container.

Imput conveyor 11 provides rigid frame 16 supporting conveyor head 17 inits upper part and motor mount 18 in a lower medial position. Theconveyor head journals horizontal forward axle 19 and rearward axle 20to carry relatively thin, flexible conveyor belt 21 about rollersmounted thereon. One axle, preferably the rearward one, irrotata'blycarries pulley 22 to communicate with driving linkage. At spaced medialposition along the belt and between its upper and lower courses, pluralagitator axles 23 are journaled by bearing 24 in conveyor head 17 asshown especially in FIG. 4. Each axle irrotatably carries driving cog 25laterally of the conveyor frame and agitator yoke 26 between the frameelements to rotatably mount agitator rollers 27 positioned radiallyoutwardly from axles 23 a distance sufficient to contact the uppercourse of the adjacent conveyor belt to cyclically move it somepredetermined distance upwardly from its normal course of travel.Electric motor 28 carried on motor mount 18 communicates by linkage 29with transmission 30 also carried by the motor mount. The transmissioncommunicates by linkage 31 with pulley 22 of the rearward axle of theimput conveyor and by linkage 32 with driving cogs 25 to motivate theagitators.

With this linkage then, product will be conveyed along the upper surfaceof the upper course of belt 21 and at the same time the agitators willmove the upper belt course cyclically up and down to cause an agitationof material in the bag to consolidate it, align it to a degree and forma reasonably flat mass with somewhat rectilinear configuration similarto that of the relaxed containing bag. The imput conveyor may be aseparate associated ancillary structure or formed physically as a partof the principal accumulator structure as desired.

Accumulator frame 33 is a rigid supportative structure having lateralperipheral elements 34 and end elements 35 with various cross-structures36, all joined in structural communication with appropriateconfiguration to support the various accumulator sub-structures.

Accumulator conveyor 12 provides rigid elongate conveyor frame 37pivotably supported in its forward (product receiving) part by bearing38 carried upon auxiliary accumulator conveyor support 39 of accumulatorframe 33. The accumulator conveyor frame journals forward axle 40 in itsforwardmost part and rearward axle 41 in its rearwardmost part. Eachaxle carries roller 42 to support continuous, relatively flexible belt43 therebetween in normal conveyor fashion. Forward axle irrotatablemounts in its lateralmost, portion pulley 44 communicating by linkage 45with accumulator conveyor motor 46 to provide motion to the conveyorbelt. Preferably some means (not shown) known in the conveyor art formaintaining belt tension on a conveyor is provided. The forward endportion of the accumulator conveyor is related to the input conveyor toreceive product from the rearward portion of the input conveyor.

The medial part of accumulator conveyor frame 37 pivotably mounts by the.pins 47 depending mover yoke 48. This mover yoke in turn structurallycommunicates with piston rods 49, 50 of pneumatic cylinder 51 andcooperating hydraulic cylinder 52. Hydraulic cylinder 52 biases theaccumulator conveyor to a downwardmost position continually, but it isrestrained by the upward thrust of pneumatic cylinder 51 which respondsmore rapidly to applied pressure to provide a fine control in moving theaccumulator conveyor downwardly in discreet steps and also provides ameans of recycling it after completion of a cycle to its upwardmost nullposition. The two cylinders 51, 52 are pivotably supported onaccumulator frame 33 by appropriate cross structure 53.

The forward part of accumulator frame 37 mounts bag sensor support 54positioning sensing arm 56 of bag sensing switch above the accumulatorconveyor to sense the passage of a bag therefrom. The bag sensing switchis an electro-mechanical device related to the pneumatic cylinderstepping switch illustrated particularly in FIG. 5 to cause that switchto activate pneumatic cylinder stepping switch 57 to allow the pneumaticcylinder to release'pressure and move the accumulator conveyor structuredownwardly a pre-determined distance until sensing arm 58 contacts thenext adjacent plural, spaced stop 59 carried by stop arm 60 dependingfrom mover yoke 48. Preferably both the pneumatic cylinder switchsensing arm 58 and plural stops 59 are adjustably positionable relativerespective supportative elements to allow convenient adjustment of theaccumulator conveyor position relative other members.

Accumulator structure 13 provides plural accumulator plates 61 of someareal extent having upturned bag stops 62 on the rear edge of allexcepttopmost plate 61a. These plates are formed of relatively thin,reasonably rigid material such as steel to accomplish their function.The plates are supported in their forward lateral extension bystructural communication with plural plate cogs 63, each respectivelypivotably mounted in the end part of accumulator plate arms 64.

The structure and mounting of the accumulator plate arms is bestly seenin the illustration of FIG. 3. Auxiliary plate arm support 65,communicating structurally with accumulator frame 33, pivotably mountsthe forward end part of each accumulator arm in vertical spaced fashionby plural pins 66. Each plate cog'63 carries an elongate link chain 67having ends fixedly positioned by fasteners 68 structurally carried byplate arm frame in its forward part, with the fasteners positioned sothat opposed courses of a chain are somewhat parallel. This chainlinkage maintains the accumulator plates 61 horizontal upon pivotablymotion of the accumulator plate arm 64 about pins 66. Biasing chain 69structurally communicate with the upper medial part of each accumulatorplate arm 64 to extend upwardly about upper biasing cogs 70 pivotablysupported by axles 71 on plate arm frame and thence downwardly overlower biasing cogs 72 pivotably carried by axles 73 supported onstructural element 74 of accumulator frame 33 to communicate in theirforward end part with elongate extension springs 75, the other end ofwhich is'supported by element 76 of the accumulator frame 33. With thisstructure then the elements are appropriately adjusted so that extensionsprings 75 maintain an upward bias on each accumulator plate arm 64 toovercome a part of the weight of that arm and thusly regulate the amountof product compaction that ultimately may be obtained by motion of theaccumulator plates.

The rearward end parts of accumulator plate arms 64 are supportedagainst downward displacement by plural spaced support rollers 77pivotably mounted in vertically spaced fashion upon vertical support armmoving lever 78 pivotably carried in its lowermost part by pin 79communicating with element 80 of the accumulator frame 33. Moving leverhydraulic cylinder 81 communicates pivotably from brackets 82 carried inthe forward medial part of the moving lever angularly downwardly andforwardly to pivotable communica tion with supporting bracket 83structurally carried by accumulator frame 33, so that as the cylinder 81extends or contracts it will move lever 78 in a pivotable fashion andthusly ultimately move the accumulator arms toward or away from eachother. It is to be noted that by reason of the arcuate motion of lever78, an upper arm will move vertically more than a lower arm so that thislinkage tends to cumulatively compensate for the differentialmotionrequired to allow a compression of bags carried on the accumulatorplates, since 'each upper plate will have to move cumulatively a greaterdistance than a lower plate to accommodate for compression of all bagstherebelow.

Accumulator pusher structure 14, as seen particularly in FIG. 8,includes an auxiliary supportative pusher frame 84 extending laterallyoutwardly from structural communication with principal accumulator frame33 to provide opposed, cooperative side channel elements 85 defining achannel to support and guide the lower end part 86 of pusher upright 87.The pusher upright defines medial, vertically extending slot 88 to setscrew-type clamp structure 89 to adjustably position elongate inwardlyextending pusher arms 90 in vertical spaced array therealong, one pusherarm being associated with each but the uppermost accumulator plate, at aspaced distance thereabove. Each pusher arm 90 is long enough to extendwhen in inward position completely across the surface of associatedaccumulator plate 61 and yet be retracted laterally thereof. Each pusherarm carries a perpendicularly projecting bumper 91 on the pushingportion to aid in moving bags across the accumulator plates. Accumulatorpusher arm hydraulic cylinder 92 is carried by accumulator frame 33,with its piston rod 93 extending laterally to communicate with the lowerportion of pusher upright 87 to move the upright laterally relative theaccumulator plates, and thusly move product on the accumulator plateslaterally from the plates and into the boxer channel.

Boxer element 15is positioned laterally of the accumulator plates,opposite the pusher structure 14. It provides bottom supportativeelement 94 and lateral supportative element 95, each structurallycarried by accumulator frame 33 and of appropriate dimension to receiveand support stacked product from the accumulator structure 13. Auxiliaryboxer frame 96 extends from structural communication with principalaccumulator frame 33 inwardly over the boxer channel and downwardly tostructurally support inner side element 96A to thusly define the bottomand two sides of product moving channel 97 extending in a forwardrearward direction. The rearwardmost elements of this channel areappropriately configured to fit immediately inside a box which is toultimately contain the accumulated product, so that the box may be placein open fashion for support over the channel defining elements. Boxerpusher plate 98 of some areal extent is carried by piston rod 99 ofrearwardly oriented boxer pusher cylinder 100 to move the pusher plate98 forwardly and rearwardly through the product moving channel tocyclically move product from the channel rearwardly into a containerappropriately positioned in the rearward part of the channel. Thecylinder is supported upon principal accumulator frame 33.

The box holding structure is illustrated particularly in FIGS. 6 and 7where it is seen to include auxiliary box holder frame 101 carried byprincipal accumulator frame 33 mounting bearings 102 in its rearwardpart to pivotably carry axle 103. This holder axle carries the spacedopposed Z-shaped box holding arms 104 adjustably communicating therewithby clamps 105. The box holding arms are rotated by holder axle 103 froma relaxed position illustrated in FIG. 7 to a perpendicular holdingposition as illustrated in FIG. 6 to hold open box 106 in position overthe rearward orifice of product moving channel 97. Rotating arm 107depends angularly from communication with holder axle 103 to pivotablycommunicate with yoke 108 of piston arm 109 of box holding cylinder 110,structurally carried by principal accumulator frame 33, to providepivotable motion to the holder axle.

With this structure then, accumulated compressed and arrayed product maybe moved from the boxer channel rearwardly into a container carried bythe boxer and the container subsequently removed by rotation of the boxholder and deposited by this action and gravity upon some auxiliaryconveying structure 111 to be removed for further processing, storage orhandling according to the prevailing practices of the art.

Having thusly described the structure of my invention, its operation maybe understood.

Firstly, a mechanism is formed according to the foregoing specificationand positioned, as illustrated in FIG. 1, adjacent some facility fromwhich bagged material may be received at the forward part of the inputconveyor.

The product 112 for which the mechanism is principally designed is someform of frozen, pre-cooked potato product, principally an elongatepre-cooked french fry of one sort or another, though obviously themechanism will operate upon other types of packaged product. Normalfrench fried potatoes are an elongate structure of some few inches inlength and a fraction of an inch in areal extent. The product 112 ispre-cooked, frozen and deposited in a pre-determined mass, ranginggenerally from a few ounces to a few pounds, in a flexible bag 113. Bag113 is generally formed from an impervious, membraneous plastic of somestrength and reasonable pliability in the temperature ranges involved.The bag normally is sealed in some fashion reasonably impervious to air.The normal configuration of a bag in relaxed condition is somewhat flatwith rectilinear periphery. The material presented to the imput conveyorwill be in a solidly frozen state, packaged in a flexible bag fashionedto allow motion of product within the bag.

This product is presented in random fashion to the forward or imput endof imput conveyor 11. It is transported along'this conveyor byfrictional engagement with the upper surface of conveyor belt 21 andduring transit the product is agitated vertically by the associatedagitator structure. The agitation tends to flatten the product in thebag, distribute it reasonably uniformly over a cross-sectional area ofthe bag and align it to some degree, with axis principally substantiallyhorizontally oriented.

The bags then move to the rearward part of the imput conveyor and moveby physical transfer therefrom to the immediately rearwardly adjacentforward part of the accumulator conveyor 12. The accumulator conveyorhas a belt speed substantially greater than that of the imput conveyor,so that product received by the accumulator conveyor will be spacedalong the belt with some substantial distance interveningnotwithstanding the time of presentment of product by the imputconveyor. The accumulator conveyor speed should have an upper limit,however, so that bags are not transported to any substantial degree bymomentum, since this would tend to disorient product and cause productdamage.

As the accumulator cycle commences the conveyor belt will be at itsinitial null position with the upper surface of accumulator belt 43substantially co-extensive with the upper surface of the next touppermost accumulator plate 61b. In this condition bagged product 10passes over the rearward end part of the accumulator conveyor and isdeposited upon' accumulator plate 61b. As the bag is so deposited itactivates the bag sensor switch 55 and this in turn activates pneumaticcylinder switch 57 to relax the pneumatic cylinder switch 57 to relaxthe pneumatic cylinder and allow the accumulator conveyor to movedownwardly until sensing arm 58 of switch 57 contacts the next upwardlystop 59, at which time the pneumatic cylinder activates to overcome thedownward bias of the hydraulic cylinder and the accumulator conveyorstops at a point to deposit on the next lower accumulator plate 61c.Process continues in similar fashion until all desired accumulatorplates have a bag of product resting on their upper surface. i

At this point, .with the accumulator plates full of product, positionsensing switch 114 carried on accumulator frame 33 senses the lowermostposition of the accumulator conveyor and in response: firstly recyclesthe accumulator conveyor to its uppermost position; secondly activatescylinder 82 to move the accumulator arm moving lever forwardly from avertical null position to thusly move the accumulator plate armsdownwardly and closer together, to lessen the space between baggedproduct and compress it to cause the product to be in immediate spacedadjacency and somewhat compacted between the adjacent accumulatorplates; thirdly pusher cylinder 92 is activated to move pusher armsinwardly to contact product and push it from the supporting accumulatorplates and into'product channel 97. Both pusher cylinder 92 andaccumulator arm moving lever cylinder 82 are returned to an initiallynull retracted position upon completion of their cycles.

The amassed product then, as it moves into contact with lateral sideelement 96 of boxer member 15, contacts position sensitive switch 115which activates boxer pusher cylinder 100 to cause the pusher plate tomove rearwardly and push the amassed product in this direction. At thistime box-type container will have been positioned, as illustrated inFIG. 6, to receive the amassed product and the box holder'cylinder 110will have been activated, normally by manual means, to hold the box inappropriate position to receive the product. After the product is pushedrearwardly into the box, the box holder cylinder will be relaxed toreturn to its normally retracted position and remove the box ontoauxiliary conveyor 111 for closing and further processing. Obviously,the box holding cylinder might be automated, by use of positionallysensitive switches if desired, but since manual loading of boxes isrequired it normally is more convenient to manually operate the boxholder cylinder switch.

In this condition then, a cycle has been completed and the mechanism isreset to recycle in the same fashion as described. The variouselectro-mechanical switching devices specified are well known in theprior art and many types of such devices performing the functionsspecified might be used with equal facility by my invention. The detailsof this control structure is therefore not material to my invention.

From the foregoing description it is to be particularly noted that whenthe arrayed product passes from the accumulator plates it is moved bypositive mechanical means and is in immediate adjacency and compactedform so that as it is moved from the accumulation plates it forms aunitized array. It then is moved along a horizontal course while beingsupported against gravity displacement to be deposited in the ultimatecontainer without any substantial disturbance of the array of product orof the material in a particular bag. At no point in the course ofproduct transfer is it passed by gravity, impacted or moved byinertia,to cause product damage or disarray but at all stages it iscontrolled by positive mechanical motion.

It is further to be noted that during product compression between theaccumulator plates the adjacent plates will approach each other tocontain the product therebetween to establish the product in immediatespaced adjacency and especially to remove entrapped air from the plasticbags that would destroy stacking potentiality.

It is to be further noted that with my invention, the product ismaterially more compacted than with manual or prior art devices and thisallows containment of the arrayed product in a smaller container and ina more compact condition which tends to prevent future potential damageduring handling, storage and transportation.

The foregoing description of my invention is necessarily of a detailednature so that a specific embodiment of it might be set forth asrequired, but it is to be understood that various modifications ofdetail, rearrangement and multiplication of parts might be resorted towithout departing from its spirit, essence or scope.

Having thusly described my invention, what I desire 'to protect byLetters Patent, and

What I claim is:

l. A product accumulator and boxer of the nature aforesaid including, incombination:

an imput conveyor having associated means of product agitation totransport supported product to;

an adjacent elongate accumulator conveyor pivotably mounted in itsforward product receiving part on an accumulator frame for verticalmotion of its rearward part, the accumulator conveyor having associatedmeans of vertically moving its rearward part to plural, spaced,pre-determined positions;

an accumulator structure, supported by the accumulator frame, havingplural vertically spaced accumulator plates immediately rearwardlyadjacent the rearward part of the accumulator conveyor to receiveproduct therefrom, each of the accumulator plates being carried bymechanical supported linkage by the accumulator frame each said linkageoperable to move a plate relatively closer to an adjacent plate duringvertical downward motion to compress product supported upon the plates;

a pusher arm structure adapted to push product horizontally from theaccumulator plates into a boxer structure defining a product channel toreceive the vertically stacked product and move it horizontally into apre-positioned container for further processing; and

motive means to activate the several members.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the accumulator conveyor has agreater conveyor speed than the imput conveyor to space product alongthe accumulator conveyor and prevent its accumulation or fouling.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the mechanical linkage communicatingbetween the accumulator plates and the accumulator frame is furthercharacterized by:

plural vertically spaced conveyor arms extending perpendicularly fromeach accumulator plate to spaced pivotable mounting in the end partsupon an auxiliary frame supported by the principal accu mulator frame,each accumulator plate having;

a pivotably mounted cog in its proximate end part structurally carryingthe associated accumulator plate with a chain communicating about thecog having each of its ends rigidly fastened at approximately the pivotpoint of said arm to allow the accumulator plates to move toward eachother and remain parallel.

4. The invention of claim 3 further characterized by the accumulatorplate end of the accumulator plate arms being supported upon pluralrollers carried in vertically spaced array by an accumulator plate armlever pivotably mounted in its lowermost portion upon the accumulatorframe; and

means of pivotably moving the accumulator plate arm lever away from thevertical to allow the accumulator plate arms to move closer together.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein the accumulator conveyor is biaseddownwardly by hydraulic means communicating from the conveyor frame tothe principal accumulator frame and is adjustably restrained from motionby pneumatic means extending between the same elements to provide finecontrol of accumulator conveyor motion.

:1 s n a:

1. A product accumulator and boxer of the nature aforesaid including, incombination: an imput conveyor having associated means of productagitation to transport supported product to; an adjacent elongateaccumulator conveyor pivotably mounted in its forward product receivingpart on an accumulator frame for vertical motion of its rearward part,the accumulator conveyor having associated means of vertically movingits rearward part to plural, spaced, pre-determined positions; anaccuMulator structure, supported by the accumulator frame, having pluralvertically spaced accumulator plates immediately rearwardly adjacent therearward part of the accumulator conveyor to receive product therefrom,each of the accumulator plates being carried by mechanical supportedlinkage by the accumulator frame each said linkage operable to move aplate relatively closer to an adjacent plate during vertical downwardmotion to compress product supported upon the plates; a pusher armstructure adapted to push product horizontally from the accumulatorplates into a boxer structure defining a product channel to receive thevertically stacked product and move it horizontally into a prepositionedcontainer for further processing; and motive means to activate theseveral members.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the accumulatorconveyor has a greater conveyor speed than the imput conveyor to spaceproduct along the accumulator conveyor and prevent its accumulation orfouling.
 3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the mechanical linkagecommunicating between the accumulator plates and the accumulator frameis further characterized by: plural vertically spaced conveyor armsextending perpendicularly from each accumulator plate to spacedpivotable mounting in the end parts upon an auxiliary frame supported bythe principal accumulator frame, each accumulator plate having; apivotably mounted cog in its proximate end part structurally carryingthe associated accumulator plate with a chain communicating about thecog having each of its ends rigidly fastened at approximately the pivotpoint of said arm to allow the accumulator plates to move toward eachother and remain parallel.
 4. The invention of claim 3 furthercharacterized by the accumulator plate end of the accumulator plate armsbeing supported upon plural rollers carried in vertically spaced arrayby an accumulator plate arm lever pivotably mounted in its lowermostportion upon the accumulator frame; and means of pivotably moving theaccumulator plate arm lever away from the vertical to allow theaccumulator plate arms to move closer together.
 5. The invention ofclaim 1 wherein the accumulator conveyor is biased downwardly byhydraulic means communicating from the conveyor frame to the principalaccumulator frame and is adjustably restrained from motion by pneumaticmeans extending between the same elements to provide fine control ofaccumulator conveyor motion.